My Assaggio Toscana — a story by Jewel

I just recently returned from my six-day cycling trip in Tuscany, the Assaggio Toscana. To say that the trip was œfantastic would be an understatement. The weather welcomed us with open arms and made every day better than the last. The glorious hills alternated in color between hues of bright green and yellow, while red poppies delightfully spotted the fields. And, one of my most favorite parts of the ride, a typical trait of Tuscany, was the majestic quality of œle cipri, the Cyprus trees lining the road and towering over us as we cycled our way to our next destination. Of course, the food and wine were endless (we even had delicious pizza leftovers sprinkled with truffles as a super-snack). In addition to a typical Italian pizza and beer night, we sampled and learned about Tuscany’s infamous red wines. We feasted on Florentine steak, fresh vegetables and fruit, Pappa al Pomodoro, learned how to make a typical Tuscan dish called Ribollita, and sampled all different kinds of olive oil. One of the best parts of the trips was the group. I’ve walked away (or should I say cycled away) with some great new friends”folks from all over the globe: Canada, Japan, Chile, California, Chicago, Boston, and New York. Thanks to the good times and for sharing the sweat and happiness that the group endured. We met locals together, cringed at the sight and smell of grappa and toasted to everyone and everything “ sang, danced, feasted, shared stories, and loved every moment! On a personal note”after this tour I really feel like I improved as a cyclist (and I’m still riding on the cycling high leftover from the tour). Growing up in Florida, it took me some time to get used to hills and actually using the gears. Thanks to our lovely guides, Frank and Dana, and the loving hills of Tuscany, I am no longer intimidated to go uphill or downhill, and I’m definitely ready to conquer more! Tuscany’s notorious hills are really welcoming for the first-time visitor to Italy and perfect for an active person who wants to improve their cycling skills. “ A word of advice for the traveler¦it’s nice to arrive at least a day before your cycling trip so you can rest up before the tour starts. For this Assaggio Toscana tour I arrived the same day as the start, and happily (luckily) got through all of the first day’s activities, but by dinnertime I was definitely ready for bed. Given another chance, if I had the time then I would arrive the day before.